Biodiversity parks in all districts soon

HYDERABAD: For effective conservation of all local species of flora and fauna at the district-level,  the AP Biodiversity Board (APBB) is planning to set up district biodiversity parks near  all district headquarters.

The state government gave its nod for the APBB to set up district-level biodiversity parks,  SN Jadhav, member secretary of the APBB has said. “The government has also sanctioned funds for the project and Rs 5 lakh was given as first instalment,” he said.

The board would send proposals to all the district collectors across the state including Hyderabad and ask the district administration to allot lands for the parks.

In some districts like Khammam and Kurnool, the parks which are in a state of neglect,  would be converted into  biodiversity parks  “By the end of this financial year the Board may complete the project,” he said.

The objective in setting up of these parks is conserving biodiversity unique to the area that was once present but had since vanished due to development activities.

“Every district biodiversity park would also have a  small museum of flora and fauna. The museum will have pictures and information of nearly 1.4 lakh species of flora and fauna,’’ he said.

Efforts will also be made to create awareness among citizens about biodiversity, its conservation and values, he said.

The objective in setting up of these parks is conserving biodiversity unique to the area that was once present but had since vanished due to development activities.

These parks also act as carbon sinks, check carbon dioxide and levels of other pollutants, buffer ambient temperatures and recharge groundwater table.

They help in conservation through preservation of ecosystems, keystone species and threatened flora and fauna, gene banks for threatened land races and wild genetic resources.